Program Summary: A recent article in Forbes Magazine reported that forgiveness is the “least understood leadership trait in the workplace”. Forgiveness is often misunderstood and seen as a weakness, “letting someone off the hook.” However, this is not the case. During this interactive workshop, participants will learn about the emerging neuroscience of forgiveness and why it matters for the work place. Learning objectives include:

1) Introduction to cutting edge ideas on forgiveness in the workplace, explaining what forgiveness is and is not, and why that matters to cultural efffectiveness.

2) Recognize wellness benefits of forgiveness for individuals and companies and the impact on relationship management.

3) Examine barriers to forgiveness and how to overcome them.

4) Understand how creativity, productivity, engagement and workplace effectiveness increases when a culture of forgiveness exist.

5) Practical real world strategies for building a better workplace through forgiveness

Our facilitator is Lyndon Harris. In the summer of 2001, Harris was the priest in charge of St. Paul's Chapel, directly across the street from the former World Trade Center. In a world-turned-upside-down on September 11, 2001, he initiated a volunteer force that rose to 15,000 volunteers, serving meals, offering supplies and giving encouragement to the rescue workers until the site was closed eight and a half months later. Dramatic as they were, the trials and triumphs of 9/11 became the trigger for devastation that followed. For Harris (who registered more than 240 days’ exposure to Ground Zero) and others like him, his volunteer efforts resulted in compromised lung function, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression that lead to great loss and despair. But in this darkness, Lyndon found a new beginning and a new mission in life through the power of forgiveness.

Harris’ work has been covered widely, including the NY Times, Time Magazine, The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, CBS News, NBC News, CNN, Germany’s Die Zeit, and others. Harris’ work in forgiveness is based on the research methodology of Dr. Frederic Luskin (Stanford) published in his bestselling book, Forgive for Good: A PROVEN Prescription for Health and Happiness.